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The FFmpeg multimedia platform is a popular open-source suite that is used extensively for encoding, decoding, transcoding, and streaming. Recently, a significant vulnerability, CVE-2025-25468, was discovered in the FFmpeg git-master before commit d5873b. The vulnerability impacts the component libavutil/mem.c and can result in a memory leak. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive understanding of this vulnerability, including the code snippet behind it, links to original references, and exploit details.

Memory Leak in FFmpeg git-master (CVE-2025-25468)

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In the FFmpeg git-master, specifically before commit d5873b (please consider updating your FFmpeg version), a memory leak was found in the component libavutil/mem.c. This vulnerability can lead to a variety of issues such as application crashes, performance degradation, or potentially giving an attacker unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Here is a snippet of the vulnerable code

void *av_realloc(void *ptr, size_t size)
{
    void *ret;
    int err = av_reallocp(&ret, size);
    
    if (!err)
        memcpy(ret, ptr, size);
    else
        av_free(ptr);

    return ret;
}

The issue lies within the av_realloc function, where the function attempts to reallocate memory but ends up doing an erroneous memcpy, resulting in potential double-free errors.

References to the Original Source

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To gain a complete understanding of this vulnerability, please refer to the following sources

- FFmpeg's Official Commit Log: Commit d5873b
- FFmpeg's Official Bug Tracker: Ticket #9299

Exploit Details and Mitigation

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While there are no known in-the-wild exploits specifically taking advantage of CVE-2025-25468, it's crucial to address this vulnerability to avoid potential attacks. Attackers can craft malicious multimedia files that, when processed by an affected FFmpeg installation, will leak memory and might lead to remote code execution.

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-25468, consider taking the following steps

1. Ensure that you are using an updated version of FFmpeg by checking your installation against the latest git-master.
2. Regularly monitor the FFmpeg commit log and stay informed about new commits that may impact security.
3. Always use caution when processing multimedia files from untrusted sources and consistently scan incoming data for potential threats.

Conclusion

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In conclusion, understanding CVE-2025-25468 is essential for maintaining secure and stable FFmpeg installations. By educating yourself about the memory leak vulnerability in FFmpeg git-master before commit d5873b, you'll be well-equipped to ensure the security of your multimedia processing software. Stay vigilant, keep your installation up-to-date, and practice good security habits when processing multimedia files.

Timeline

Published on: 02/18/2025 22:15:18 UTC
Last modified on: 02/19/2025 15:15:17 UTC